Hertsmere Council has revealed it is set to propose the maximum increase in council tax allowed for the coming financial year.

Central government has recently armed local authorities with additional powers to raise their precepts by a maximum of 2.99 per cent, rather than the previous limit of two.

The move has led to Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd and Welwyn Hatfield Council proposing increases in their precepts, with the county council also refusing to rule out doing the same.

A Hertsmere Council spokeswoman said: “A final decision will be taken by elected members at a full council meeting at the end of February following a period of consultation.

“Within our financial strategy, we are currently proposing a £5 increase in our portion of the council tax bill for 2018/2019 (equivalent to 2.99 per cent), but it will ultimately be for elected councillors to decide on any increase.”

Cllr John Graham, portfolio holder for finance, said: “At a time when money from central government is declining, we are looking to provide both a continuing and growing range of services and, at this stage, we have worked on the same assumption as last year and suggested a £5 increase in our strategy.

“That assumption will be looked at again once we have comments back from our budget consultation and a final decision will be taken in February.”